Washable ruffled window curtain



H. F. GUNDLACH WASHABLE RUFFLED WINDOW CURTAIN Nov. 7, 1950 Filed Nov. 4, 1948 punt-Ell. Iv m.

INVEN TOR.

ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 7, 1950 WASHABLE RUFFLED WINDOW CURTAIN Helen F. Gundlach, Ebenezer, N. Y.

Application November 4, 1948, Serial No. 58,299

6 Claims.

This invention relates to window curtains, and

more particularly to a washable ruffled window curtain.

Ruflied curtains are in common use in homes and are desirable because of the soft and pleasant appearance produced by them. However, the washing and ironing of ruffled curtains, as heretofore constructed, has constituted such a drudge for many housewives that they sent the curtains to a commercial laundry rather than subject themselves to the task of washing and painstakingly ironing the curtains.

Accordingly, a primary object of the invention is to provide an attractive, ruflied and flouncey window curtain which does not require ironing after being washed.

Another important object is to provide such a window curtain which can be easily and readily washed and restored to a condition for rehanging and therefore the housewife is encouraged rather than discouraged to wash her curtains at home rather than send them to a commercial laundry.

Another object is to provide such a curtain which is easy to put up and take down before and after washing the curtain.

Another object is to provide such a curtain which can be adjusted to fit windows of different heights.

Another object is to provide such a curtain which is simple in construction and hence easy and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of the front sides of a pair of curtains embodying the present invention and being shown, as hanging from a conventional curtain rod, the curtain at the.

curtain shown at the right in Fig. 1 and 'illustrating the manner in which the curtain can be stretched for drying.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary elevational view similar to Fig. 4 and illustrating a modified form of curtain construction.

Fig.7 is a sectional view thereof taken on line 1-1, Fig. 6.

A preferred form of curtain embodying the present invention is illustrated in Figs. 1 through 5 and comprises an elongated rectangular piece these marginal strips.

stitched thereto.

' spaced intervals so as to provide stitches.

any suitable light-weight, starched or sized, finely woven and transparent fabric used for window curtains, such as permanent stiff finish cotton or rayon marquisette or other suitable net fabric, and having hems I0 and II at the opposite transverse narrow ends, these hems being formed by turning over the marginal portion of the curtain piece to provide a loop and securing the edge of the turned over portion to the main body of the curtain in any suitable man- 'ner as by a line of stitching. The construction through the top hem or loop which is designated by the numeral II], the bottom hem being designated by the numeral II.

A pair of elastic cords, threads or strands I3 .and I4 are arranged on the fabric piece adjacent the vertical longitudinal edges thereof and extend the full length thereof and divide the curtain into three sections I5, I6 and I1, the sections I5 and I! being relatively narrow marginal strips and the central section I6 being a wider strip between The elastic cords l3 and It, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, are preferably connected to the curtain fabric by weaving these cords in and out through the fabric in substantially a straight line parallel to the vertical edges of the curtain, the upper end of each such elastic cord being suitably anchored or secured to the curtain adjacent the upper end thereof and the lower end of each of these cords emerging from a place adjacent the lower edge of the bottom hem I i. As shown in Fig. 2, the upper end of each elastic cord, as represented by the cord I3, is preferably formed into a loop lying against the inner surface of the top hem I!) and suitably However, any other suitable manner of anchoring the upper end of the elastic cords I3 and I4 to the curtain fabric can be employed. In Fig. 2, the elastic cord :3 is illustrated as being straight and as passing through the adjacent curtain fabric at generally uniformly The stitch of the elastic cords is similar to a simple running or tack stitch as used in basting although the length of the stitches or the exposed lengths of elastic cords on the front and back sides of the curtain is preferably shorter than that usua ly employed in basting.

A feature of the invention is to provide a soft and graceful appearing curtain in which the central section I6 is festooned or draped in a series of superposed upwardly facing curved bends or folds and also in which the marginal sections [5 and I! are ruffled, as shown at the right in Fig. 1.

To arrange the straight and flat hanging curtain shown at the left in Fig. 1 in the festooned and ruffled form shown at the right in Fig. 1, the

permanently Y the light-weight fabric.

curtain fabric is pushed upwardly and shirred on the elastic cords I3 and It so as to gather the curtain fabric on these cords and make it stand outwardly therefrom, as illustrated in Fig. 3. During this shirring operation the elastic cords I3 and I4 are maintained in an unstretched condition. This can be done by holding the exposed tained in their adjusted positions due to the frictional engagement between the elastic cords and The gathers formed in the curtain fabric along the elastic cords generate the ruifies in the marginal sections 5.5 and I1 and also the festoons in the central section 5 ti It has been found that a length of fiat hanging curtain adjusted in this manner to have a final shirred length of about one-half its original fiat length provides a soft appearing and highly attractive curtain. However, the curtain can be adjusted to any length and fullness desired.

After the curtain has been so shirred or gathered on the unstretched cords I3 and M, the lower ends-thereof are anchored to the bottom of the curtain. As best shown in Fig. 5, this is preferably accomplished by tying a knot It in each of. the elastic cords at the place where these cords emerge from the lower edge of the bottom hem II and cutting off the tail or portion of the cords below the knots I8. Instead of cutting off the elastic cords, their exposed ends can be tucked into the ends of the bottom hem II and thus hidden from view. Further, any other suitable manner of securing the lower edge of the curtain fabric to the elastic cord can be employed. For purposes of illustration, the size of the knots I B and also the thickness of the cords l3 and I4 is exaggerated.

It will thus be seen that an attractive curtain having a festooned central section with rufied borders extending along the opposite vertical sides thereof is provided. A pair of such curtains is generally provided at each window although a single curtain may be desired. It is preferred to avoid gathering the curtain in a horizontal direction on the curtain rod I2 as this tends to destroy the attractive festooned effect of the central section. Theelastic cords I3 and I4 preferably have the same color as-the curtain fabric material so as to be inconspicuous. If desired the top of the curtain can be covered with a separate rufiied valance (not shown) on a separate curtain rod (not shown), as several rods generally are purchased. in a set of conventional curtain rods. Also a rufiied band or strip (not shown) can be used to tie back the curtain intel-mediate its top and bottom to give the com-- mon tie back arrangement employed with rufiied curtains, Such valance. and tie back form no part of. the present invention and hence have not been illustrated. 7

A very important feature of the invention is that a curtain constructed and hung asdescribed above can be readily taken down, washed and dried and restored to a condition for rehanging without requiring the curtain to be ironed. The ironing of the curtain is eliminated by pulling the elastic cords to permit thecurtain to be stretched fiat and drying the curtain when in this flat and stretched: condition. This can be achieved, as illustrated in Fig. 5, by hangingthe our- 4 tain from two straight bars or rods I9 arranged in the hems IE3 and II and projecting outwardly therefrom and supported in any suitable manner in substantial parallelism, and placing a weighted round bar or rod 20 in the bigh-t 0f the curtain. The rod 20 should be sufficiently heavy to stretch the elastic cords to permit the curtain to assume a flat condition in which the curtain will dry smooth without wrinkles. After the curtain is dry the rods I 9 and 20 are removed to permit the elastic cords I3 and I4 to contract in length and thus restore the curtain to its shirred form. The curtain can then be rehung on the curtain rod I2 as shown at the right in Fig. 1. It has been found that this contraction of the elastic cords produces a uniform shirredeffect and very little final adjustment of individual gathers is required.

The reason the curtainis illustrated in Fig. 5 as being looped or stretched double for drying is that a curtain embodying the invention and provided for the customary full length Window found in the average home of today would be too long to hang stretched in a single straight panel.

i However, if space permits the stretching of the curtain into a single straight panel, the folding or looping of the curtain as illustrated in Fig. 5 can be eliminated and a weighted rod can be placed in the bottom hem I]. with the curtain supported on a rod extendingthrough the top hem It. Also instead of employing the rods I9 and 29 any other suitable, form of curtain stretcher or devicefor holding the curtain in a stretched flat condition when drying can be employed. I

Instead of weaving the elastic cords I3 and I4 in and out through the curtain fabric, the modified construction shown in Figs. 6. and '7, can be employed. As'shownin Figs. G and 7, a small vertically running tubeor hem 2 I is. provided .in the curtain fabric adjacent each vertical side thereof. length of the curtain and is preferably formed by folding the curtain upon itself to provide a loop and stitching the contacting ends of the loop together. Within each such tube or hem 2| so formed is arranged an elastic cord 22 similar to the elastic cords I3 and i 4. The .endsof the clastic cords 22 can be secured to the curtain in the same manner described for the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1-5.. The modified form of curtain shown in Figs. 6 and 7 can be shirred in the same manner as described for the curtain shown in Figs. 1-5. N

If in wearing and laundering, the elastic cords in either illustrated form'of the'invention gradually lose their elasticity, any permanent. stretch in the cords can be taken up by forming the knots I8 farther up the cords and. tucking the portion of each cord below its knot into the bottom hem I I. Such surplus cord is never cutoff since it will be needed in laundering the curtain to permit the curtain to be stretched flat.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the present invention provides an attractive rufiied curtain which is easy to hang and take down and most important need not be ironed after washing. 1 Further, the curtain is simple in construction and inexpensive to manufacture.

I claim:

15A washable window curtain which requires no ironing, comprising an elongated rectangular piece of finely Woven light-weight fabric, a hem at one of 'the narrow ends of'said fabric' piece for receivingacurtain rod 'on which the curtain" This tube or hem ZI extends the full.

hangs, and a pair of unstretched elastic cords secured to said fabric piece adjacent the longitudinal edges thereof and fastened at opposite ends to both of said narrow ends of said fabric piece, the fabric being gathered on said elastic cords to provide a festooned central section between said elastic cords and a ruffled border along each of said longitudinal edges, said elastic cords being adapted to be stretched to the full length of said fabric piece when in an ungathered condition to permit said fabric piece to be stretched flat for drying of the curtain after being washed.

2. A washable window curtain which requires no ironing, comprising an elongated rectangular piece of finely woven light-weight fabric, a hem at one of the narrow ends of said fabric piece for receiving a curtain rod on which the curtain hangs, and a pair of unstretched elastic cords secured to said fabric piece adjacent the longitudinal edges thereof and fastened at opposite ends to both of said narrow ends of said fabric piece and dividing said fabric piece into a central section and relatively narrow marginal sections along opposite longitudinal sides of said central section, the fabric being gathered on said elastic cords to festoon the fabric in said central section and to ruffle the fabric in said marginal sections, said elastic cords being adapted to be stretched to the full length of said fabric piece when in an ungathered condition to permit said fabric piece to be stretched fiat for drying of the curtain after it is washed.

3. A washable window curtain which requires no ironing, comprising an elongated rectangular piece of finely woven light-weight fabric, a hem at one of the narrow ends of said fabric piece for receiving a curtain rod on which the curtain hangs, and an unstretched elastic cord woven in and out through said fabric piece along a substantially straight line parallel to but spaced inwardly of each of the longitudinal edges of said fabric piece thereby dividing said fabric piece into a central section and relatively narrow marginal sections on opposite longitudinal sides of said central section, the end of each of said elastic cords adjacent said hem being fastened to said fabric piece and the opposite end of each of said elastic cords being fastened to the narrow end of said fabric piece remote from said hem, the fabric being gathered on said elastic cords to festoon the fabric in said central section and to ruffle the fabric in said marginal sections, said elastic cords being adapted to be stretched to the full length of said fabric piece when in an ungathered condition to permit said fabric to be stretched fiat for drying of the curtain after it is washed.

4. A washable window curtain which requires no ironing, comprising an elongated rectangular piece of finely woven light-weight fabric, a hem at one of the narrow ends of said fabric piece for receiving a curtain rod on which the curtain hangs, a fabric tube on said fabric piece adjacent each of the longitudinal edges thereof and extending in a substantially straight line the full length of said fabric piece and dividing said fabric piece into a central section and relatively narrow marginal sections on opposite longitudinal sides of said central section, and an unstretched elastic cord arranged in each of said fabric tubes and fastened at its opposite ends to said fabric piece, the fabric being gathered on said elastic cords to festoon the fabric in said central section and to ruiile the fabric in said marginal sections, said elastic cords being adapted to be stretched to the full length of said fabric piece when in an ungathered condition to permit said fabric to be stretched flat for drying of the curtain after it is washed.

5. A washable window curtain which requires no ironing, comprising an elongated rectangular piece of finely Woven lightweight fabric, a hem at one of the narrow ends of said fabric piece for receiving a curtain rod on which the curtain hangs, a continuous hem formed in said fabric piece adjacent each of the longitudinal edges thereof and extending in a substantially straight line the full length of said fabric piece and dividing said fabric piece into a central section and relatively narrow marginal sections on opposite longitudinal sides of said central section, and an unstretched elastic cord arranged in each of said continuous hems and fastened at its opposite ends to said fabric piece, the fabric being gathered on said elastic cords to festoon the fabric in said central section and to ruflie the fabric in said marginal sections, said elastic cords being adapted to be stretched to the full length of said fabric piece when in an ungathered condition to permit said fabric to be stretched flat for drying of the curtain after it is washed.

6. A washable window curtain which requires no ironing, comprising an elongated rectangular piece of finely woven light-weight fabric, a hem at one of the narrow ends of said fabric piece for receiving a curtain rod on which the curtain hangs, and a pair of unstretched elastic cords secured to said fabric piece adjacent the longitudinal edges thereof and dividing said fabric piece into a central section and relatively narrow marginal sections along opposite longitudinal sides of said central section, the end of each of said elastic cords adjacent said hem being fastened to said fabric piece and the opposite end of each of said elastic cords emerging from the narrow end of said fabric piece remote from said hem, the fabric being adapted to be gathered along said elastic cords while unstretched to festoon the fabric in said central section and to ruffle the fabric in said marginal sections so that after securement of the free ends of said elastic cords to said fabric piece at their places of emergence therefrom, such effectively shortened unstretched elastic cords can be stretched to the full length of said fabric piece when in an ungathered condition to permit the fabric piece to be stretched flat for drying of the curtain after it is washed.

HELEN F. GUNDLACH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS.

Number Name Date 736,242 Gable Aug. 11, 1903 978,220 Sarkisian Dec. 13, 1910 1,625,329 Oehrle Apr. 19, 1927 1,736,086 Madsen, Jr Nov. 19, 1929 2,204,723 Compton June 18, 1940 

